Jacob's Pillow Dance

In 1979, Arslanian co-founded the Jazz Tap Ensemble and, as music director, worked with Honi Coles, Foster Johnson, Cookie Cook, Eddie Brown, Harold and Fayard Nicholas, and many other tap greats. Arslanian has been the music director for numerous productions throughout the U.S. and Europe, including Dance Umbrella's Fascinating Rhythms tour. Arslanian has also been music director for Tapestry in Boston and the Portsmouth Percussive Dance Festival. Arslanian composed music for Clara's Dream: A Jazz Nutcracker in 1999 and for Off the Beaten Path: a Jazz and Tap Odyssey in 2008. Arslanian's jazz compositions have been recorded by many artists including George Coleman, John Hicks, and Roy Hargrove. Arslanian has been a lecturer in dance and accompanist for the dance department at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, since 1999.